Say Cheers with a glass of Barefoot Malbec

This Sunday we will be celebrating Father's Day.  It's always lovely to make the most out of these special days. It's a good excuse for me and the kids to make an even bigger fuss of Ian than we usually do. Father's Day also means he gets to choose what we do all day, including picking his favourite meal. It's nice to have a sit down meal together for special occasions, because often during the week we eat on our laps in the living room (especially now the football is on - we can't miss a match, especially as we have our own family sweepstake running!) This year Ian will be treated to a family cinema trip followed by our favourite Indian takeaway in the evening, served with a good bottle of red wine. Red wine is up there as one of his favourite tipples. A good red is not only delicious, it is also rich in antioxidants making it good for you if drunk in moderation. (That's what the experts say - and who am I to argue with that!!)

Barefoot Wine have a delicious addition to their range of wines and we received a bottle of the new Californian Malbec to sample. The Barefoot brand brings an element of fun and freedom into the wine market, promoting the idea that wine tastes better in a tee than in a tux!  Their new world Malbec red wine is an affordable crowd pleaser, perfect with or without food.  Malbec has recently risen in popularity having characteristics similar to a Merlot, making it an easy to drink and versatile red.

The Malbec red wine looks and smells lovely from the moment it's poured, with a rich, red colour. It is a full flavoured wine which is smooth and goes down easily with an instant warming effect. The flavour is reminiscent of dark berries with a hint of vanilla and a toasted oak finish. Ian and I enjoyed this wine very much. It is just the sort of red we love to drink together.

Barefoot have a range of red, white, pink and bubbly wines, which is perfect for any special occasion. Any of them would make a great gift for dad this Father's Day, or would accompany a special meal.

Barefoot wines are readily available in supermarkets and convenience stores and are sold in many pubs and restaurants nationwide. The Barefoot Malbec is currently available in Sainsbury's for £7.00.

Happy Father's Day to my Children's Daddy

Once upon a time I was a single parent with a 3 year old son and a new baby girl. Although being a 22 year old with two kids wasn't easy, being a mum defined me, giving me something to live for and to strive for. I didn't need any one else aside from my son and my daughter. With two terrible failed relationships behind me, the part of me that could love or trust again was more than a little broken. I focused all my effort and energy into doing the best for my children. Building a life for us and protecting them from the hurt I had endured.

I could never have known that I would be sharing my life with someone again so soon. That within a year someone would take my wounded heart and fix it. Someone who would teach me how to live and how to love.

You came along. My best friend for so many years. Offering me the unconditional support and friendship that had been missing from my previous relationships. Opening my eyes to how it felt to be respected, cherished and  loved. It was inevitable that our friendship would become something more and I knew that you were an honest, decent, trustworthy man with a good heart - a man that I could let into my children's lives.

So you became the father figure that they had never had. A man that they could love and trust, who would never let them down. Who would put their needs first. Who would love their mum and never hurt her.

Over the next few years we saw the arrival of a daughter. We got married and welcomed another little girl and a son into our family. We built a home and saw our love grow deeper and deeper, as we shared our lives together.

Today is Father's Day.

On this day I need to let you know just how amazing a man you are. What you have given me can never be quantified. Because you have given me myself. You made me whole and gave me the chance to be the best person I could ever be, But more than that, you gave my children the very best dad that they could ever wish for. Literally.

I have never known a dad like you. Nothing is too much trouble for you when it comes to your family. The things you have done for all five of our children goes so far beyond the call of duty. You are selfless. You are kind, fair, respectful and supportive. You love unconditionally, with all of your heart. You have fun with them, enjoying their company and time spent together. You give them the tools to be better people and let them see how a real man behaves. They are so lucky to have you.

If I could have known what life my two eldest children would enjoy thanks to me being with you, that scared 22 year old girl that I was, would have never wasted a tear , felt any regret or sorrow or feared for our futures. Everything bad that I had endured up to that point in my life was worth my suffering. Because my journey led me to you. Has led me to where we are now, with five miraculous children and a wonderful life together.

Thank you for allowing me to give my children a dad like you. It has been the very best gift I could ever have given to them. The best gift for a mother to give to her children. A role model, a hero, a shoulder to cry on and someone to trust. A strong pair of arms to hold them and the knowledge that they will always have someone who puts their needs above their own.

I only have to look at my incredible, successful, confident and loving older kids to know that your parenting has influenced their lives in such a positive way. You gave them a love that transcended biology, allowing them to rewrite the futures they may have otherwise had. Our three younger children are just as wonderful, knowing nothing but the unconditional love of two parents who are very much in love with each other. The five of them are as close as siblings can be and fill us with such pride and joy everyday.

We did this together Ian, but I am forever grateful to you. You gave me the chance to live this life and to give our children all the things that they need to be the best versions of themselves that they can be. That is a true blessing.

Father's Day at Aldi and What Fred Said about his Dad!

This Father's Day, Aldi is a one stop shop for buying what you need to make a special day for your dad. From buying ingredients to cook dad's favourite food to buying gifts that he will love. Here are some ideas for what to buy him this Father's Day.

Aldi stock a great range of alcoholic drinks in store including ales, beers, lager, cider, spirits and wines, which represent excellent value. Whatever your dad's favourite tipple, you will find a selection of drinks, many of which are award winners.  Ian would love the gold medal winning Highland Black 8 year old Scotch Whisky, which is just £12.99 for a 70cl bottle. Or perhaps a selection of the bottled beers and ales, which start at just 90p a bottle.

Aldi are passionate about producing top quality chocolate made from the finest ingredients. The Moser Roth range has a selection of bars of chocolate, truffles and chocolate assortments. This includes a range of award-winning 125g bars - each bar combining the finest smooth dark chocolate with an intriguing flavour. Choose from Mint, Chilli or Orange and Almond at £1.19 each.

Aldi's Specialbuys this week include some ideal gifts that would make excellent Father's Day gifts to suit a range of budgets:

Specialbuys available from 18th June

Fire Pit £19.99

The easy way to enjoy crackling flames outdoors.  This firepit is made using robust black powder-coated steel with folding legs for easy storage. It includes a mesh cover, log grate and tool. A lovely addition to the garden on summer evenings.

810W Hammer Drill  £14.99

Ideal for drilling wood, metal, plastic and concrete, this hammer drill is good for DIY loving dads.

It includes adjustable side handle and depth stop.

Fruit and Vegetable Plants £2.99 each

Growing your own is easy with these established plants in big 4 litre pots. Choose from 8 varieties. Any dad who enjoys gardening will love to nurture these plants and harvest their crops.

***

Just for fun,  Aldi have come up with a list of questions for kids to answer about their dads. I asked 6 year old Freddy the following questions about his dad!


What Fred Said about his Dad for Father's Day:

1.       What makes your dad happy?

I do!

2.       What is the funniest thing about your dad?

He tells jokes.

3.       What is something your dad always says to you?

I love you.

4.       What is your dad really good at?

Looking after me.

5.       What does your dad do as a job?

He pays for things. (?? He is actually a data centre engineer!)

6.       What is your dad’s worst habit?

Going to work because I don't like being without you.

7.       What is your dad’s favourite tea?

Pizza.

8.       What would you like to say to your dad?

I love you.

9.       What are you going to do with your dad on Father’s day?

I can't say because it's a surprise!

10.     Why are you proud of your dad?

I don't know but I am.

Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas - Roberts Bakery, Wilkinson Sword and Beech's Fine Chocolates

If you are yet to buy a present for your dad this Father's Day don't panic! Here are some ideas for some last minute gifts that won't cost too much, but will be gratefully received.

Breakfast in Bed

Why not show him how much you care and treat dad to breakfast in bed for Father's Day? Perhaps you could make him a voucher (or print out the one below) and present dad with it so he can redeem it whenever he fancies an indulgent lie in with his choice of breakfast served to him in bed.

For Ian's Father Day Breakfast, we'll be making him a Quorn Bacon Butty using Roberts Bakery Soft and Fluffy Thick White Bread and tomato sauce. Served with a mug of black coffee, this is the perfect brekkie for dad!

Keep an eye on the Roberts Bakery Facebook page for their ultimate Father's Day Bacon Butty Guide!

Wilkinson Sword

Practical gifts can be much appreciated, which is why toiletries are always a good idea for dad. You can buy them in supermarkets so can be picked up easily wherever you are. They are a great idea for the dad who has everything.

Wilkinson Sword's Hydro 5 razor gives dad a revolutionary shave care system with its five ultra glide blades, hydrating gel reservoir and flip trimmer. It gives a high performance shave with the benefit of added skin care.

How about the new Wilkinson Sword travel kit, which includes a Hydro 5 Razor, travel cap and mini can of Protect shaving foam? It's a great idea with the summer holidays and festival season approaching. This kit is a Tesco exclusive, but Hydro 5 can be found nationwide. Wilkinson Sword products are currently included in an up to half price special offer with the Hydro 5 Groomer at £7.49 and the Razor at £4.19. Pair them with dad's favourite aftershave for a brilliant gift idea.

Find out the latest new on the Wilkinson Sword Men UK Facebook page.

Beech's Chocolate

If your dad has a sweet tooth or is a bit of a chocoholic, then you can treat him to some quality chocolates. Both Ian and my dad enjoy darker, richer blends of chocolate, savouring a few squares a night.

Beech's Fine Chocolates have a range of delicious, top quality 60g bars that are perfect for Father's Day. They are grown up chocolates for the more discerning palate with their range of interesting varieties.

The range includes:

White Chocolate

Milk Chocolate

Dark Chocolate

Dark Chocolate with Natural Ginger

Dark Chocolate with Lime and Chilli

Milk Chocolate with Anglesey Sea Salt

The Dark Chocolate with Natural Ginger is 55% cocoa solids. It is smooth and dark with a subtle hit of gingery warmth. It is delicious.  The 55% Dark Chocolate with Lime and Chilli is a really inventive flavour, with a citrus tang and a hit of heat. Ian really liked this one...it's a proper manly flavour! The chocolates are delicious on their own or would be excellent ingredinets in a recipe. (Watch this space for a recipe in the near future using a sample of Beech's Fine Chocolates that I was sent to try!)

Beech's have been making fine British chocolates since 1920 using the finest, natural ingredients. The packaging is really attractive, bearing the Beech's crest. The dark chocolate varieties are suitable for vegans, while the rest are vegetarian friendly. Beech's have an extensive and impressive range of vegan friendly chocolate creams, chocolate Brazils and chocolate thins

Beech's currently have a competition online where you can win a holiday or a hamper of chocolate simply by signing up to their newsletter. Just by entering you receive a 10% discount code to use against your first order.

The bars are £1.50 EACH or 3 for £4.00 or 12 for £12.00 with FREE DELIVERY on orders over £12.00.

Visit Beech's Fine Chocolates for more information.


We received these samples for the purpose of this review.

Father's Day Gift Guide - featuring Scruffs Hardwear and Truprint

Scruffs Hardwear

Scruffs make menswear that works just as hard as dad does. With durable materials and stylish designs, dad will enjoy wearing the workwear to show that he is #scruffsenough for anything, whether at home or at play. I received a sample of the Scruffs range to try out.

The Scruffs authentic vintage T-shirt is made from thick 100% cotton and is comfortable to wear. It is well made with good stitchwork and has branded label detailing on the sleeve and at the bottom of the shirt. It is available in sizes up to XXL and comes in grey or blue. At £11.95 it is a great price for a quality men's T-shirt.

The Scruffs Boxers are firm fitting and stylish, made using tough, durable polycotton. They have a Scruffs logo printed waistband.  A two pair pack of large boxers are £10.75.

Other gift ideas from Scruffs include a handy bottle opener belt for £11.95 and a water resistant and shockproof sports watch for £19.95. These would all make practical Father's Day gifts for a hardworking dad.

You can view the entire range of Scruffs workwear, safetywear and accessories at Scruffs.com.

Truprint

I have been busy making Father's Day mug and coaster gift sets for my dad, FIL and Ian with Truprint. I have also created a lovely notebook to give to Ian, featuring photographs of myself and all five of our children. At just £5.99, the notebooks come with plain or lined paper and can be personalised using a range of patterns and layouts.

When I give someone a notebook, I think it is really lovely to write a note on the first page. For Father's Day, each of the children can write a personalised message or draw a picture inside for dad to treasure.

Find this and other Father's Day gift ideas online at Truprint plus find details of an exclusive discount code valid until June 15th 2015.

Father's Day Gift Ideas #TruprintDads

Father's Day this year falls on June 21st, giving us all a few weeks to come up with the perfect gifts to give as we celebrate the men in our lives and everything that they do for us. This year, with my own lovely dad, my father-in-law and Ian to get gifts for, Kizzy and I decided to get creative and make them some personalised pressies.

We decided that it would be a nice idea to make each dad a personalised mug with a matching pair of coasters, and then filling the mug with something to match their personalities. This gift could then be wrapped in cellophane and finished with a ribbon to create a beautiful, bespoke present that will be treasured.

The first job was to create collages to go onto the mugs and coasters. For my dad and my FIL I used old family and personal photos to create images that would bring back happy memories. For Ian, Kizzy created something arty, celebrating the things that her dad loves (including all five of his kids!) I used Picmonkey to do the photo editing. Making the images first gives you much more creative freedom to design the perfect collage using overlays, clip art and filters.

Once we had the designs, we used Truprint to create the photogifts we wanted. (Truprint currently have a great Father's Day promotion, details of which are at the bottom of this post!) The mugs and coasters are easy to make online by uploading the images onto the site and editing them and adding text. With the mugs you can choose the colour of the inside of the cup and have a choice of font for the text. The coasters come in a pack of six, so by uploading three designs, I made a pair of coasters to match each mug.

Once ordered the photo gifts were delivered to my door within a few days, ready to have the finishing touches applied.

Depending on the dad's tastes, the mug can be filled with all manner of small gifts. We decided on using retro sweets, sachets of hot drinks and character socks and a keyring for our three presents. But you could use stationary products, a new tie, a miniature bottle of brandy with some sachets of coffee, some packs of seeds or some bars of dad's favourite chocolates. Another idea is to make dad some promise vouchers, either by hand or on the computer, to be exchanged for things such as bringing him breakfast in bed, washing his car or letting him take control of the TV for one day! 

You can really have fun making this gift, from creating the collages to putting the finished gifts together. I like presents that look good, show thought and are functional after the big day.

The price of the photo gifts that we ordered from Truprint are:

Photo mugs 11 oz from £7.99

Coasters x 6 £14.99

6 x 4 photo prints from 5p

Another quick and easy idea for a Father's Day Gift is to buy a cheap photo frame and buy prints to go in it. It's very simple to do and the photo prints cost just pennies making it a very reasonable gift. This is an excellent present idea for grandads, who you possibly don't get to see very often. It's a nice touch to include a declaration that you promise to send updated photographs four times a year to replace the photographs so they can always have some up to date pictures of the grandchildren hanging on their wall.

You can find the mugs and coasters plus other fantastic Father's Day gift ideas on the Truprint website. Last day for ordering for Father's Day is June 15th.

Truprint have a special Father's Day offer saving you up to £30 off your order.

Code LOVEMYDAD gives £10 discount on order £20-£49.99 and £30 discount on orders £50 or more!

Minimum spend does not include P&P charges

Offer is valid until midnight 15th June 2015.

Offer is valid for single use during the promotional period and to customers residing in the UK on Truprint.co.uk only.

P&P charges will apply

Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or on pre-paid prints.

Please allow an additional 1-2 delivery days during this promotional period.

I received credit to make my Father's Day mugs and coasters.

Father's Day Crafts from Baker Ross

When it comes to special occasions, nothing beats a homemade gift from a child who loves you. Knowing that they have put in their time and effort to create something special makes them the most precious of presents to receive.

For Father's Day, Baker Ross have a brilliant range of crafting goodies to help children make something really special for their dads. Freddy received some of the sets and we hosted an after school get together with his cousins to try them out. 

The things we tested out included:

Father's Day Foam Stickers: pack of 120 £2.99

Tie Book Mark Kit: pack of 4 £2.99

Toolbox Photo Frame Kit: pack of 4 reduced from £3.96 to £1.99

Car Wooden Desk Tidy Kit: pack of 3 £3.45

Father's Day Car Cards: pack of 8 £1.99

With Baker Ross products, you know you are getting a brilliantly thought out craft activity containing everything needed to make something that looks great. With pre-cut foam pieces and self-adhesive stickers, many of the kits are really easy and straightforward to do. Children just need to add their own artistic flair to make a design that their dads will love.

The children seemed to really enjoy doing the crafts for their dads. They don't always stick religiously to the instructions, but they all put their own unique spin on the activities to create unique gifts. The foam stickers were stuck on with some wild abandon at times, but this makes the gifts even more unique!

We particularly loved the Father's Day self-adhesive foam stickers. With shapes such as guitars, ties, lap tops, footballs, moustaches, newspapers, remote controls, power tools, golf clubs and PS3 controllers, there are designs to match any dad's personality. There are also slogan stickers with phrases such as 'World's Best Dad' and 'King for the Day', which are ideal for card making. We used the stickers to personalise the car shaped wooden desk tidy, which we filled with sweets to make a lovely gift. Alternatively, you could use paints to create a unique design on the easy to assemble 3D wooden car.

The tool box photo frames will grace any dad's desk and will look fabulous with a family photo inserted. They look really cool once completed and are a lot of fun to make with the assortment of self-adhesive tools to stick on around the foam frame. The frame is free standing, slotting into a base.

The tie bookmarks come in four different designs and the 'Dad Rocks' one complete with a guitar sticker is perfect for Ian. The other designs include sports, a race car theme and a #1 Dad design. They would be a perfect additional gift if buying a book for dad this Father's Day.

The colour in car cards come in three designs; a camper van, a Mini and a race car. They can be coloured in with felt tips, crayons, pencils or paints and come complete with envelopes. 

Seeing how proud Freddy was to have made his daddy a selection of such lovely gifts was a delight. He and his cousins carried out the crafts with such enthusiasm and really enjoyed creating the things that they made.  There are going to be two very happy daddies on Father's Day!

Find all these Father's Day craft packs plus hundreds of other themed craft ideas and accessories at www.bakerross.co.uk.

Father's Day Gift Guide 2014 - featuring Getting Personal, Little Tiger Press, Dove and Radox

June 15th is Father's Day, the day when we celebrate all those wonderful dads out there!  This year, why not treat your dad to something special to let him know just how much he is appreciated?  Here are some ideas for perfect pressies for dads that we have been lucky enough to receive for the purpose of this review.

Getting Personal sell a huge range of items, many of which can be personalised to create a completely unique gift to suit the occasion.  Whether your dad is a whizz in the kitchen, enjoys pottering around in the garden or enjoys taking part in sporting activities, there is a gift idea to suit.

We were sent a gift for Ian that is just perfect for him!  He enjoys the occasional wee dram of whisky - it must be down to his Scottish ancestry - and he loves the quality of a good single malt.  So the Personalised Five Whisky Gift Set was the obvious choice.

The gift box is lovely, containing five miniature bottles of whisky from a hand picked selection of rare and independent distilleries.  Included is a presentation mat and tasting cards.  The whole thing is presented in a slip case which can be personalised with a message. Whisky lovers can learn a little about their favourite tipple whilst sampling the contents of the beautifully presented gift set!

It costs £36.99 and you can find it here: www.gettingpersonal.co.uk/gifts/personalised-set-of-5-whisky-gift-set-regional-selection

Little Tiger Press has some lovely new titles out now, which little ones will love to share with their daddies this Father's Day.

Sorry Dad is the tale of a father and son cat.  Although they are best of friends, the little cat can be a bit cheeky at times and finds himself in the odd spot of bother!  This book sees the little cat trying to work out how to say sorry to his long suffering dad.  He finds a rather unique way to apologise and his dad doesn't stay cross for long!  RRP £6.99 for ages 3-5.

Me and My Daddy is a fantastic carry case with four mini paperbacks, a card and stickers inside.  Little ones can make a card for their daddy and then snuggle up to enjoy one of the stories:  Before We Go To Bed, My Daddy and Me, Oops-a-Daisy! and The Very Happy Hippo.  Each little book is beautifully illustrated and features a story that both the kids and dad will love. RRP: £9.99 for ages 3-6

If you are looking for something very affordable and useful, Dove Men+ Care have some great products perfect for the men in your life. Based on his lifestyle and skin type, you can find some male grooming products that would make an ideal, thoughtful and practical gift for dads or grandads.

The Daily Care Duo gift pack  (RRP £6.50) features a Clean Comfort anti-perspirant deodorant and a body and face wash with micro-moisture technology. It will help keep him feeling fresh all day long with its subtle and crisp fragrance.

Radox also have some products that would be suitable for men on Father's Day.  The Muscle Therapy Bath Soak (RRP £2.31) and 2- in-1 For Men Shower Gel (RRP £2.15) are a good idea for a sporty dad.  The bath soak helps to warm muscles and ease away aches and pains, while the shower gel is great for dads on the go. You could make a male grooming hamper to perfectly suit your dad's needs, because men deserve to be pampered too.

Whatever you do for your dad this Father's Day, I hope you have a wonderful time!

June in Pictures

Gardening with Grandad #KidsGrowWild

This Father's Day, we invited my parents around for a celebratory lunch with the family.  During their visit, we shamelessly took advantage of my dad's horticultural talents and sent him into the garden with grandson Freddy to plant up some seeds using our gardening starter set received as part of the Brit Mums #KidsGrowWild campaign in conjunction with moneysupermarket.com.  It was a delight to see 4 year old Freddy and 80 year old Grandad cultivating their green fingers and having some outdoor fun together.  

With the addition of a bag of compost and a few pots, they were ready to get planting the Pansies, the mixed flowers and the Sunflowers, hoping for a pretty display of colour that will attract the bees into our garden over the summer months.
Freddy loved the feel of the soil and enjoyed scooping it into the pots with his hands, the trowel and while wearing his gardening gloves.  He explored the colours, textures and smell of the soil as he worked. It is such a wonderful, multi-sensory activity.

Once the pots were full, they were ready to plant the seeds. Grandad told Freddy all about the different seeds and how they will grow.  Freddy was taking in all the facts about flowers and what colour, shape and size they will be.  Freddy really wants the pansies to be light blue...we shall find out when they grow!

We had potted up some sunflower seeds into a small pot the week before, and they were now little seedlings ready to be planted in the big pots.  Grandad showed Freddy how to gently prick out the seedlings. He told him all about the roots and showed him how to make a hole in the soil with his thumb to gently plant the seedling in.  freddy was amazed to hear that sunflowers can grow even taller than Grandad!

Once all the seeds and seedlings were planted up in their pots, Freddy watered them using rain water we had collected in a bucket in the garden.  Freddy loves watering plants and his new watering can was a big hit.

He finished up by using the plant labels so he could remember what was planted in each pot!  

Freddy was so attached to his new gardening gloves he wore them for the rest of the afternoon! 

It was so lovely to see Freddy spend some quality time with his Grandad doing something together out of doors.  My dad loves gardening and if can pass on some of his enthusiasm and knowledge to his grandchildren it is time well spent!  They had a wonderful time pottering about, happy in each other's company.

After doing the gardening with Grandad, we all sat down to watch Dr Suess's The Lorax which is all about the importance of plants and growing seeds.  Freddy's favourite song is "Let It Grow!" which seemed very appropriate!

 “This post is an entry for BritMums’ #KidsGrowWild Challenge”

Father's Day Competition - A Tribute To My Dad

  John Lewis have a Father's Day blogging competition where you could win a special gift for your dad.  The prize is an amazing Osiris Chrono watch.

To enter, all you have to do write a post telling them why your dad is great. (by Friday 12pm) Once the post is completed leave me a link in the comments and I will forward them on to the PR company who will enter you into the prize draw to win the special prize.  Winner will be picked at random and notified by John Lewis on June 14th and the prize will be sent out by them that day.

Here is my entry!


Why My Dad is Great

My dad Stanley (on the right) was born in 1932 in the Black Country.

He was conscripted to the army into the regiment of the Coldstream Guards when he was 18 and served King and Country in Egypt and Cyprus.  He then became a Sergeant serving at Windsor Castle.

He marched in Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953. (My dad is centre of the front row.)

He met my mum in a pub in Windsor and left the army life behind him to start a new life with the woman he loved.

They married on Christmas Eve, 1955.

My parents went on to have three daughters, the youngest of which was me!  My dad helped deliver me, when my mum gave birth during visiting hours, which was really unusual back in 1969. That gave us a unique bond as he saw me being born.

As a little girl I loved my dad.  He was my hero.  I always thought he was the tallest man in the world and ever so handsome.  Although family life wasn't always easy, I have so many fond memories of my childhood.  Riding on my dad's shoulders when I got tired from walking.  Snuggling up on the sofa watching Charlie's Angels.  My dad making me laugh by doing silly dances and pulling faces.  Being allowed to keep the stray cat that my sister found.  Going rock pooling and catching crabs on our annual seaside holiday.  Drawing pictures for my dad to hang in his office.  Going to see Star Wars at the cinema and having to queue up for ages!  helping him in the garden where he grew vegetables and fruit.  Going for Sunday drives in his Hillman Avenger.  Watching him sorting out his stamp collection on the table.  Playing our favourite family card game, Benny! 

Even as a teenager we still shared fun moments together.  I never stopped being a 'Daddy's Girl' who wanted her dad to be proud of her.

When I was just 19, I gave birth to my first born son Joe. I was single but I was never alone with my family's support.  I gave my baby boy the middle name Stanley in honour of my dad.

My dad was so proud to be the Father of the Bride when I married Ian in 1997.  He sang 'Oh What a Beautiful Morning' in the middle of his wedding speech, doing his best Howard Keel impression.  He has continued to be so supportive and helped me so much at every stage of my life.

Today, my dad is 80 years old. He is still very much in love with my mum and they have an inspirational rock solid marriage.   His role has changed over the years as each new generation of our family came into being.  He has adapted to these changes with his trademark humour, generous spirit and loving heart.  

We all cherish him and love him with all our heart.

 He now has a grand total of thirteen grandchildren. Although his knees are arthritic and he suffers pain, he still manages to be as hands on as he can be and we love spending family time with him and my mum.  We laugh a lot and have fun together which I think is wonderful.

He became a Great Grandad for the first time last year to baby Ted Stanley, named in his honour. Just as I had given the name to Ted's daddy 24 years earlier. He also has a second great grandson who was born just yesterday!

I feel so blessed to have four generations of my family.  Family is the most important part of my life and I intend to make as many wonderful memories as I can.  My kids adore my dad and that relationship just makes me love him all the more.  They are lucky to have him.

This Father's Day I will be celebrating the fact that I have a dad that I love and who is still a big part of my life and my children's lives.  Thank you Dad, just for being you!!  I love you xxx